Mechanical toy



(No Model.)

W. R. SMITH.

MECHANICAL TOY.

Patepted June 1,1897.

may?

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM B. SMITH, OF \VESTFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

M EC HANICAL TOY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 583,661, dated June 1, 1897.

Application filed March 2 9 1 89 7.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM B. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Westfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanical Toys Propelled by Living Creatures, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in devices to be propelled by living creaturesas, for instance, trained n1ice-the object being to provide an attraction for show-windows and general amusement.

The invention relates to a device comprising a turn-table and a support on which it turns; and the object of the invention is to provide in such a device means whereby the turn-table will be supported for rotation in an inclined plane and whereby said supporting devices permit the rotation of the turntable with a minimum of friction..

The invention consists in constructions and combinations of parts,all substantially as will hereinafter fully appear, and be set forth in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which the device is illustrated, and in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section through the parts of the device above the base, and Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the turn-table and equipments provided thereon.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all of the views.

In the drawings, A represents a post or standard having at its bottom a base or suitable feet A At the top of said standard A a bushing 17 is set in a socket therefor, said bushing having fitted therein and supporting the upwardly-extended pin or rod d, which is bent, as shown, angularly to the vertical axis of the post.

B represents the turn-table, preferably covered over its top with cloth f. Upon the under side of the turn-table is affixed a block g, having therein a circular socket 72-, in which is set the hardened-steel bushing 2', having a central aperture therein which is downwardly flaring, as shown at j. The upper end of this Serial No. 629,728. on model.)

aperture is rounded and receives therein the upper rounded end of the bent rod cl.

having in its center the hole at and having its extremities t t screwed to the block 9. This strap applied as shown serves to keep the turn-table perpendicular to the upper portion d of said rod, which is angular to the vertical axis of the supporting-post, and thus the table in a plane inclined to the horizontal, and insures that the wall of the flaring socket will only be in bearing and in frictional contact against the rod at the rounded end thereof.

Mice may be easily trained to jump upon the turn-table and run thereon upwardly rela tive to the inclined marginal portion thereof, causing the table to rotate with rapidity, and it is because of the inclination thereof, substantially as shown, that the mice will be induced to run and continue this action with great avidity. The inclination of the table, moreover, assures from the running action the rotation thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a device of the character described the combination with a post or standard having at its upper end the rod 61 which is bent angularly to the vertical line of the post, of a turn-table mounted on the upper end of said rod, perpendicularly to the length of said bent portion thereof, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a post or standard A having at its upper end the rod d the upper end portion of which is bent angularly to the length of the post, of the turn-table provided at its under side with the socket j, and having the downwardly-bowed strap which engages the said rod, said socketed turn-table being mounted for rotation on the upper end of said rod 01 perpendicularly to the length of the bent portion thereof, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a post or standard A having at its upper end the rod d the upper portion of which is bent angularly to the line of the post, of the turn-table having at its under side the block g in which is set the hardened metallic bushingz' having the socket j which is downwardly flaring, and the strap 5 on having its extremities secured to said block 9, being intermediately downwardly bowed and having the aperture nwhieh is in bearing engagement against the an gularly-bent upper portion of said rod cl, said turn-table being 10 mounted for rotation on the upper end of said rod d perpendicularly to the length of the bent portion thereof, substantially as described and shown.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in presenee of two witnesses.

\VILLIAM E. SMITH.

\Vitnesses:

WM. S. BELLoWs, M. A. CAMPBELL. 

